A former staffer for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) has filed a lawsuit claiming that the Congresswoman fired her in retaliation for legal measures she was getting ready to take against a former employee of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) for an alleged sexual assault. The woman alleges that Damien Jones, a former Intern Coordinator for the CBCF, raped her in October 2015 when she was a 19-year-old intern. She declined to press charges at the time, but years later changed her mind. She says she went to Jackson Lee’s Chief of Staff, Glenn Rushing, in early 2018 of her plans. The unnamed staffer, Jane Doe, asked to speak with Jackson Lee -- whom she was working for when she decided to file suit -- but was not given a meeting and was fired weeks later, allegedly in retaliation. The TX Congresswoman is Chair of the Board for the CBCF. “We had nothing to do with any of the actions that have been cited and the person was not wrongfully terminated,” Rushing told BuzzFeed; Jane Doe was told she was being let go for budget reasons. BuzzFeed reports that the woman said she reported the alleged rape to police and told several people at the time, including Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). Sewell reportedly called Jane Doe’s mother without Jane Doe’s permission to alert her that something had happened; Sewell and Jane Doe’s mother are related, according to the complaint. Jane Doe also said she met with representatives of the CBCF in November 2015. The lawsuit includes claims against Jackson Lee and the CBCF. More here.

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